Golf club head, method of golf club head treatment, and kit for reducing golf ball side-spin

ABSTRACT

A kit for reducing the coefficient of friction between a golf club face and a golf ball during use of the golf club face to strike the golf ball. The kit comprising a first container containing a first lubricant that penetrates the club face to reduce the coefficient of friction between the club face and the golf ball when striking the golf ball and an applicator containing a supplemental lubricant that further reduces the coefficient of friction. The first container has a storage compartment for holding the first lubricant, a nozzle for directing flow of the first lubricant, and an opening within the nozzle for releasing the first lubricant. The applicator has an applicator body for holding the supplemental lubricant and an applicator cap with an applicator sponge attached to the applicator cap adjacent an aperture of the applicator cap controlling the release of the supplemental lubricant from the applicator body. The first lubricant comprises a petroleum oil having a structural configuration providing enhanced penetration of the porous metallic material of the club face.

PRIOR HISTORY

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/367,088, filed on Mar. 22, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to an improved golf clubhead, method of golf club head treatment, and kit for reducing golf ballside spin. More specifically, the present invention relates to animproved golf club head that reduces the side spin on a golf ball aftera golf club impacts the golf ball at an angle that normally would createside-spin and a resulting slice. The present invention also relates tothe method of treating an existing golf club head to become an improvedgolf club head. Finally, the present invention provides a kit fortreatment of the golf club head.

[0004] 2. Background

[0005] Both avid and amateur golfers crave the distance and enjoymentthat comes from a golf ball being hit straight down a fairway. Thesegolfers share the common fear of a seemingly straight golf shot slicingor hooking away from the fairway.

[0006] A slice or hook is caused by a side spin being inadvertentlyplace upon a ball. Ideally, a golfer swinging a club will strike a golfball with the club face perpendicular to the intended direction of thegolf ball. In practice hitting the golf ball perpendicular to theintended direction is very difficult and even a slight angle toperpendicular results in side spin. When the club face hits the golfball at an angle, the club face grips the surface of the golf ballcausing it to spin sideways.

[0007] The amount of friction or gripping between the club face and thegolf ball is determined by the coefficient of friction. Friction is theresistance to relative motion of contacting surfaces. The degree offriction that is occurring is given by the coefficient of friction.Callister, W. D. Material Science and Engineering.John Wiley and Sons,Inc. New York,1994. A lower coefficient of friction between a golf balland the face of a club will result in less spin being imparted to thegolf ball. A golf ball with less side spin will slice or hook less.

[0008] The side spin initially does not influence the trajectory of theball but as the velocity of the ball slows the side spin begins toinfluence the trajectory into a slice or hook.

[0009] An avid golfer may spend hours attempting to perfect his golfswing to eliminate a slice or hook; however, because even a slight anglemay create a slice or hook, he or she may not consistently eliminate aslice or hook. An amateur golfer unaware of any swing imperfection maysimply become frustrated with his or her golf game. A solution todecreasing side spin is therefore desirable to assist golfers in thisproblems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0010] Other golf club head treatment methods have been designed toattempt to fulfill this need. U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,171 issued to Sharpeis one of these methods. Sharpe's method provides a system for changingthe trajectory of the golf ball when struck by the face of the golf ballby including a friction altering material to the club face. However,this method does not provide the user with a method of preloadinglubricant onto the club head with the lubricant becoming integral to theclub face. Therefore, there is a need for an improved method thatprovides the user with a longer lasting coefficient of frictionreduction on the club face.

[0011] Composition and method of use disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,385,140 issued to Zilonis et al. relates to the reduction of hooks orslices. The composition is topically applied to the golf club face andafter impact with the golf ball the club becomes substantially free ofthe composition. The user is therefore required to reapply thecomposition with every swing attempted with the club. Therefore, theneed remains for an improved golf club head that allows the user thebenefit of a reduced coefficient of friction without the requirement ofreapplying the composition before every golf swing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An improved golf club head is claimed to reduce the coefficientof friction that results when a golf club head strikes a golf ball toreduce side spin and the resulting slice or hook.

[0013] A method is claimed to modify a golf club head to perform as animproved golf club head.

[0014] A kit is claimed to provide the user with the necessary materialsto modify a golf club to perform as an improved golf club head.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment, a user of this device swings thegolf club at a golf ball so that the face contacts the golf ball. If theface contacts the golf ball perpendicularly no slice will result;however, if the face contacts the golf ball at angle a side spin willresult. The amount of side spin is determined by the angle the clubcontacts the ball and the coefficient of friction between the golf balland the club face. Lubricant seeping from the porous material reducesthe coefficient of friction between the golf ball and the face. Thus, auser of this device places less side spin upon a golf ball than using agolf club head without this improvement if hitting a golf ball at thesame angle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the improved golf clubhead.

[0017]FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a partial exploded view of an improved golfclub head.

[0018]FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows the method of applying a first lubricant to agolf club head.

[0019]FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows the method of applying a supplementallubricant to an improved golf club head.

[0020]FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows a kit for modifying a golf club head to animproved golf club head.

[0021]FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the applicator bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022]FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a device 10 having a shaft 14, a head body 12connected to the shaft 14, a club face 16 joined to the head body 12 andsaturated with a lubricant 30. The head body 12 may be made of graphite,wood, metal, or any other suitable material known in the art. The clubface 16 is attached at position 18 by a screw, adhesive, or any othermounting material known in the art. In the preferred embodiment the clubface 16 is of the same material as the head body 12 and formed in unisonwith the head body 12.

[0023] In the preferred embodiment, the head body 12 is a driver.However, as illustrated in FIG. 5 the head body may also be a wood,iron, or putter.

[0024] The club face 16 is formed of a porous material that may be wood,aluminum, titanium, steel, or other metals known in the art.Alternatively, the club face 16 may be a porous material made of a metalalloy. FIG. 1 illustrates a series of groves 15 and flush surfaces 17 onthe face 16. A polish (not shown) may be applied to the flush surfaces17.

[0025]FIG. 2 illustrates the face 16 saturated with first lubricant 30.The lubricant 30 fills pores in the groves 15 and flush surfaces 17.

[0026] The first lubricant 30 may be any material that enters into theporous material of the club face 16. Commercial products that illustratethis principal include WD-40 brand lubricant, LIQUID WRENCH brandlubricant, and MARVEL MYSTERY OIL brand lubricant. In a preferredembodiment, the first lubricant 30 is a microlubricant unlike ordinaryoil that has been scientifically processed to reduce the size of thelubricant molecules so that the first lubricant 30 aggressivelypenetrates into hard metals such as titanium and steel. The firstlubricant 30 penetrates the porous material of the face 16 and becomesan integral part of the physical structure of the club face 16. Acommercially available non-chemical additive sold as Z MAX brandlubricant that is used in motor oil, fuel, or transmission fluid fitsthis description.

[0027] A user of the device 10 swings the golf club 13 at a golf ball sothat the club face 16 contacts the golf ball. If the club face 16contacts the golf ball perpendicularly no slice will result; however, ifthe club face 16 contacts the golf ball at angle a side spin willresult. The amount of side spin is determined by the angle the clubcontacts the ball and the coefficient of friction between the golf balland the club face. First lubricant 30 impregnated in the porous materialseeps from the porous material and reduces the coefficient of frictionbetween the golf ball and the club face 16. Thus, a user of device 10places less side spin upon a golf ball than using a golf club headwithout this improvement if hitting a golf ball at the same angle. Theuser continues to use device 10 until the first lubricant 30 no longerimparts any reduction in the coefficient of friction.

[0028]FIG. 3 illustrates a method of applying a first lubricant 30 to agolf club that does not have first lubricant 30. A container 20 having astorage compartment 22 a nozzle 24 and an opening 26 releases a firstlubricant 30 onto the club face 16. The user places the first lubricant30 in individual drops until a layer 32 is formed upon the club face 16.The user then waits until the porous material is saturated with thefirst lubricant 30. The user then removes the excess first lubricant 30.

[0029] In the preferred method, the user applies heat to the club face16. The application of heat acts to expand the porous material in theclub face and lowers the viscosity of the first lubricant 30. It may beappreciated that additional penetration of first lubricant 30 may occurby extended exposure to a heat source such as the sun or a heat lamp.Other heat sources may be used.

[0030] A user of the method illustrated in FIG. 3 may then swing thegolf club 13 at a golf ball so that the club face 16 contacts the golfball. First lubricant 30 impregnated in the porous material seeps fromthe porous material and reduces the coefficient of friction between thegolf ball and the club face 16. Thus, a user of the method illustratedin FIG. 3 places less side spin upon a golf ball than using a golf clubhead without this improvement if hitting a golf ball at the same angle.The user continues to use the golf club head 10 modified with firstlubricant 30 until there is no longer any coefficient of frictionreduction.

[0031]FIG. 4 illustrates the method of applying a supplemental lubricant50 to the device 10. It may be appreciated that the method of providinga supplemental lubricant 50 to a device 10 may also supplement themethod illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0032] In FIG. 4, the supplemental lubricant 50 is applied to a clubface 16 in a layer 52 with applicator 40. The preferred applicator 40includes a cylindrical applicator sponge 46 secured to a body 42. Anapplicator cap 44 is attached to the body by threads 48. The threads 48prevent supplemental lubricant 50 from leaking from the applicator 40when the applicator cap 44 is securedly attached to the body 42. Thecylindrical applicator sponge 46 is saturated with a supplementallubricant 50. In a preferred embodiment, the cylindrical applicatorsponge 46 is filled with the supplemental lubricant by compressing thecylindrical applicator sponge into the applicator cap 44 that was filledwith the supplemental lubricant 50.

[0033] In the preferred embodiment as seen in FIG. 4, the cylindricalapplicator sponge 46 is of a diameter sized to evenly distribute thesupplemental lubricant 50 across the club face 16. In the preferredembodiment, the applicator has a diameter approximately 2.25″ and aheight when closed of approximately 1″. An advantage to this size andconfiguration is that the applicator 40 is small and portable allowing agolfer to carry the applicator 40 in a pocket rather than left in a golfbag or golf cart. The cylindrical applicator is anticipated to be ofother sizes and dimensions.

[0034] The supplemental lubricant 50 is a friction-reducing material,preferably a mineral oil. The supplemental lubricant 50 is applied as alayer 52 upon the surface of the club face 16. It will be appreciatedthat other friction reducing materials may be used including silicone,petroleum derivatives, and water-based lubricants. Other lubricants canbe used.

[0035] A user applies the supplemental lubricant 50 to a device 10. Thesupplemental lubricant 50 reduces the coefficient of friction of device10. A user of the method illustrated in FIG. 4 may then swing the golfclub 13 at a golf ball so that the club face 16 contacts the golf ball.Supplemental lubricant 50 coating the club face 16 coupled withlubricant 30 impregnated into the porous material and seeping from theporous material reduces the coefficient of friction between the golfball and the club face 16. Thus, a user of the method illustrated inFIG. 4 places less side spin upon a golf ball than using a device 10 ifhitting a golf ball at the same angle. The user continues to use thegolf club head modified with supplemental lubricant 50 until there is nolonger any supplemental coefficient of friction reduction due to thesupplemental lubricant 50.

[0036]FIG. 5 illustrates a kit supplying a first lubricant 30 incontainer 20, a supplemental lubricant 50 in container 60, and asupplemental lubricant applicator 40. FIG. 5 further illustrates themethod of applying the first lubricant 30 to the club face 16 and themethod of applying the supplemental lubricant 50 to the club face 16.FIG. 6 shows another view of the container.

[0037] Although the invention has been described by reference to someembodiments it is not intended that the novel device be limited thereby,but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as fallingwithin the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure, thefollowing claims and the appended drawings.

I claim:
 1. A golf club in combination with a lubricant for reducingside spin of a golf ball when using the golf club to strike a golf ball,the combination comprising: a golf club head body having a club facemade of porous metallic material; and a first lubricant impregnatedwithin the porous metallic material of the club face, the firstlubricant reducing friction between the club face and a golf ball duringuse of the club face to strike the golf ball.
 2. The combination ofclaim 1 further comprising a supplemental lubricant upon the club faceproviding further reduction of friction between the club face and a golfball during use of the club face to strike the golf ball.
 3. Thecombination of claim 2 wherein the club face is made of aluminum.
 4. Thecombination of claim 2 wherein the club face is made of titanium.
 5. Thecombination of claim 2 wherein the club face is made of steel.
 6. Thecombination of claim 2 wherein the first lubricant comprises a petroleumoil having a structural configuration providing enhanced penetration ofthe porous metallic material.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein thestructural configuration comprises petroleum oil molecules of reducedsize, the reduction in size of the petroleum oil molecules providingenhanced penetration of the porous metallic material.
 8. A method oftreating a golf club face with lubrication, the method comprising:applying a first lubricant to a golf club face made of a porous metallicmaterial; allowing the first lubricant to impregnate the porous metallicmaterial; removing excess first lubricant that does not impregnate theporous metallic material; heating the golf club face expanding the poresof the metallic material and lowering the viscosity of the firstlubricant; and allowing the golf club face to cool.
 9. The method ofclaim 8 further comprising applying a supplemental lubricant layer tothe golf club face by compressing an applicator sponge saturated withthe supplemental lubricant against the golf club face, the compressionof the applicator sponge imparting the supplemental lubricant to thegolf club face.
 10. A kit for reducing the coefficient of frictionbetween a golf club face and a golf ball during use of the golf clubface to strike the golf ball, the kit comprising: a first containerhaving a storage compartment for holding a first lubricant, a nozzle fordirecting flow of the first lubricant, and an opening within the nozzlefor releasing the first lubricant; a first lubricant within the storagecompartment of the first container; an applicator body for holding asupplemental lubricant having a threaded opening; a supplementallubricant within the applicator body; an applicator cap having athreaded portion sized and shaped for threaded engagement with thethreaded opening of the applicator body and an aperture for releasingthe supplemental lubricant from the applicator body; and an applicatorsponge attached to the applicator cap adjacent the aperture of theapplicator cap controlling the release of the supplemental lubricantfrom the applicator body, the supplemental lubricant impregnating theapplicator sponge providing means for applying a substantially uniformlayer of supplemental lubricant over an area.
 11. The kit of claim 10wherein the first lubricant comprises a petroleum oil having astructural configuration providing enhanced penetration of the porousmetallic material.
 12. The kit of claim 11 wherein the structuralconfiguration comprises petroleum oil molecules of reduced size, thereduction in size of the petroleum oil molecules providing enhancedpenetration of the porous metallic material.